by Magazine Writer | Dec 13, 2019 | 1980s, Other Magazines Preview
I remember picking up Joystick Nation at the oddly-named Little Professor book store in Green Bay late in 1997. I was so enthused at the thought that someone had written a book about video games then and now that I snatched it up and gladly paid the steep cover price...
by Magazine Writer | Dec 11, 2019 | 1980s, Other Magazines Preview
It’s one of the legends of the Atari era – the famous “Coke Wins!” cartridge for the 2600, originally designed as a premium, mail-in-your-proofs-of-purchase type item from the Coca-Cola Company. But for those who have actually seen the game, it’s very easy to see that...
by Magazine Writer | Dec 9, 2019 | 1980s, Other Magazines Preview
Any look back at classic video game merchandising would be remiss in its duties if it didn’t mention some of the most highly visible – and yet least memorable spinoffs: Saturday morning cartoons. Video games had quickly been picked up as a theme in cartoons;...
by Magazine Writer | Dec 9, 2019 | 1980s, Other Magazines Preview
Let’s say you’re a major toy manufacturer named Kenner. Let’s say it’s late 1983, and your last big license – a little summer flick called “Return of the Jedi” – is now but a memory, with no sequels in sight. TV is a...
by Magazine Writer | Dec 7, 2019 | 1980s, Other Magazines Preview
Once upon a time, many years before Game Boy Color, MAME, and Namco Museum, there were low end console games and there were battery-operated LED-display games. Back then, it was roughly an equal trade-off. Did you prefer blocky, clunky graphics that moved with some...